I'm sending a guitar from New York to my brother in California. It's in the original double box that it came in from the manufacturer. I want to send it ground. Who's the better and safer carrier – UPS or Fedex, Or something else? Appreciate any help. Thanks.

I don't know the better carrier, but definately insure the package and put large FRAGILE stickers or words on the box. The carrier should have the stickers. My classical guitar came from NY via UPS. It came in a case which was in a well padded with newspaper box.

Lorette

PC, Never ship a guitar by UPS. Never! The guitar should also be in a hard shell case with lots of bubble wrap around the case, then in a sturdy box. Sometimes fragile stickers means to throw or smash to an employee having a bad day. I advise using the cheapest air service and not ground. I shipped a rare guitar once in a hard case wrapped in bubble in a 1/4 inch plywood box. When it arrive by UPS ground to the guy at his place of business, a transmission shop, it was smashed. A 140 lb transmission had been stacked on it. It was marked fragile. The only ground service I would recommend is DHL and I guess they are gone from the USA. Most guitar places use Fed Ex economy air service. Fed Ex ground and home delivery are separate divisions and better than UPS, but still a gamble. It all depends on value of guitar. The reason I recommend air service is the trailers that carry packages across country are usually packed full with all sizes and weights of packages and sometime just things like transmissions with address tags on them or over 100 lb Caterpillar rolls, etc. Even if care is taken to load the trailer, which usually isn't the case due to supervision timing loaders and not allowing time for times of special arranging to secure load, loads shift and fragile packages get smashed.

I am a retired UPS driver. What I tell you is from years of experience. Collecting on insurance is another hassle. Also don't forget to take the tension off the strings and put foam or small bubble wrap between strings and guitar. Make sure the guitar cannot move in the case. Photograph the guitar before it is packed, so they cannot claim you shipped a damaged guitar. Also have the receiver check the box for any damage when delivered.

Thank you all for the advice. Sam - would you have even a rough estimate of the difference in cost between Fedex ground and Fedex economy air. Also - might not you run into the same "stacking" problem in the cargo compartment of a plane. And finally, could air pressure in a plane, or cold temperatures in the air harm the guitar? Thanks again.

Well, I'm really confused. I went to Fedex website, put in approximate size and weight for the box to L.A. two day ground, and the quote came up $196.00. Is this a joke. I have been quoted $40 ground by sellers in L.A. to ship a guitar to N.Y.